Principal Selection Begins Next Week

DAYTON – Dayton School District is moving forward with plans to hire a permanent principal for the junior/senior high school by the end of March, and the public is invited to join in the process.

The selection committee, which includes members of the school board, teachers, staff, and parents, will meet with the six candidates for an initial interview on Feb. 23 and 24. The district will be looking to advance two to three of these candidates to the second stage of the hiring process, Superintendent Doug Johnson said.

The public is then invited on the evenings of March 2 and 3 to meet the candidates in the high school auditorium. Specific times will be determined as the event approaches, Johnson said.

“The candidates will tell a little about themselves, the public can ask questions, and then we will provide feedback forms attendees can fill out, which will go to the selection committee and board as they make their decision,” Johnson said.

Johnson did confirm that interim Secondary Principal Kate Wenzl is one of the six candidates who will meet with the selection committee next week. Wenzl was hired as the interim principal this summer following the resignation of Andy Maheras in July.

“When Mr. Maheras left, it was late and we didn’t have much time to involve the public in the hiring process,” Johnson said. “So we decided to hire on an interim basis, but the board knew that at some point they’d have to determine what to do on a permanent basis.”

In November, the board authorized a series of public meetings offering the community, students, and district employees a chance to get to know Wenzl and ask her questions. Then in December, the district announced it would interview additional candidates for the post. Superintendent Doug Johnson said, at the time, that soliciting applicants would “provide Mrs. Wenzl an opportunity to defeat all comers and ensure there is no question that she was the best candidate.”

At this point, the selection committee plans to have a recommendation ready to present to the superintendent by Thursday, March 12, with the potential announcement of the successful candidate for the permanent position at the regular school board meeting on Wednesday, March 18, Johnson said.